That's my bullshit

So long and thanks for all the fish

2010-05-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

I've been out of school for like two weeks now and I got to say it's been nice. I still have another year left and I'm happy about that. The real world scares me. I've become increasingly indifferent about things, which isn't great for this job market or my future career path, but whatever. I've been reading a lot and writing a lot too. I've read three books in the past five days, but plan to do better next week. I have two more books to go, then I got to go acquire more. Over the past month or so I think I've read more than a lot of people have in their lifetime. I like to read, it helps me focus, it helps me channel my vivid and sometimes scary imagination. I find if I don't read, write, or do something I have terrible nightmares, sometimes they can be fun, but otherwise normally a drag.
I finally joined facebook, I wanted to be myspace's last hold out, but alas you can revive something that is long dead. I don't like facebook much, actually I quite hate it. I'll keep it though, just because I feel left out if I don't have one.
I guess in big news my script got nominated for a showcase and my short story will probably be getting published in the Northridge Review. This isn't really a big deal for anyone who isn't me or doesn't have a vested interest in my success, but I'll talk about it nonetheless because I'm egotistical, no proud, yes, proud is more the word. I wrote my script Killer Tofu for my screenwriting class thinking not much of it. I knew the skeleton of the work. I knew I wanted BFFs, zombies, college kids, and a whacked out southern meat packing CEO. I wanted it to be funny, but sometimes what's funny to me is just that, only funny to me. I wanted it to be brutal. So one day I just starting writing and Killer Tofu came out. It was hailed as genius, but I'm not so sure about that, I think my teacher was just trying to be nice. Nonetheless, he wanted to enter it into some showcase my school was having. It was a pretty big deal I guess, there was a committee and a black tie event for it and in order to get in you had to be nominated you couldn't submit it yourself. After a little hesitation I let my teach submit it, but there was one problem, it was technically a senior standing showcase, which meant mine had about zero chance of getting any recognition. Of course it didn't get into the showcase because of all the politics surrounding it, but the committee wrote me a personal letter rejecting me, but told me they'll save me a spot for next year.
For my final project in my Science Fiction class I opted to write a short story. Once again not thinking much of it and having no skeleton or direction for the work I just started writing and two hours later "Human on Human Crime after the Featherhead Landing" came out. Don't credit me with the title, that was Steve's idea, it's a great title though, I wish I had thought of it. Anyway it came off being this noir/sci-fi/detective story and it was also hailed as genius, so much, in fact my teacher urged me to submit it to the committee for the Northridge Review. I'm putting a few finishing touches before submitting it, but I still don't think it's that great. Whatever. The Northridge Review I guess is a pretty big deal too, it not only gets sold at the school, but at book stores and shops of that nature in all surrounding cities. If that story gets published, they really won't know what hit them. Everyone else in my class either wrote nerdcore sci-fi or Avatar like stories, yawn.
Although I am proud of my accomplishments, I'm not too terribly happy with either project. Sometimes I think there are too many thoughts in my head. It's too hard to intelligibly articulate them.
Other than reading and trying to write/perfect some things, I'm not really doing much this summer. I'll be going to the movies a lot like I always do. I might go and visit my sister in Atlanta, which is cool, but I'm not sure how long/when that will happen, I guess I could take up and leave any day I wanted, which is kind of exciting. I do have an obligation to my now booming dog business though. It's going better than expected actually, but like I said indifference just sort of settles over me, so I'm just like, whatever. So I'll probably post my short story on here at some point after I'm done fussing over it, so anyone who actually reads this can take a look. It's not really as crazy as the title might suggest and it probably won't be as good as I've built it up to be, but there's nothing like a good ol fashion ego beat down every once and a while and I figure I should probably just get that over with, now, while I'm indifferent.
I saw Exit Through the Gift Shop last night, which at first wasn't my top choice, I thought, oh god I hear about street art/how god like Banksy is everyday at school, do I really have to go watch a movie about it? To tell you the truth everyone I've ever encountered that worshiped Banksy and took those "look at me I'm so arty and cool because I took a picture of this urban decay and view it as art" has been a total jerk-off. I have to say though, when I saw the flick, I was very pleased. That was exactly the type of attitude that the film had. I always kind of liked what Shepard Fairey did and although I didn't hate him as a person, more the hype that surrounded him, I came to respect Banksy. I still think a lot of street art can be a total cop out though. I guess all art circles have those people. Anyway the film is super funny and I enjoyed it a lot. It reminded me of a lot of people I know (don't worry if you're reading this, you're probably not one of them) and if they're not painstakingly clueless, they'll totally feel like assholes when they watch this and realize the joke's on them. And with that my friends, I was temporarily knocked right out of my indifference and effectively cheered up.

-Katie

Katie the teenage bitch

2010-04-07T02:53:00.000-07:00

I'm so into Breaking Bad now, it's unreal. Fuck Skylar though, haaaaaate that bitch! For those of you who don't know the magic of Walter White, you need to get on that shit, sooo good! Anyway, my bod is becoming so hot now, it's also unreal. Furthermore, Degrassi is ripping out my heart and stopping it into the ground, how dare they. They just don't want anyone to be happy, any fans know exactly what I'm talking about. I should really set up a Degrassi fan support group, we really need each other in such turbulent times, no one should have to endure these episodes alone. And yes, I realize the only new, exciting things in my life are what happens to the fictional characters on television shows and no, I don't think that's sad, depressing, or socially awkward...
Well, I'm in the process of getting a facebook, yea I'm finally coming around to the young people's social recreation. I've been in the process for a couple of days now, though, because I'm resistant to technological change, so I might never finish. Hopefully by the time I'm done there isn't a new site I have to reluctantly join after being pushed out of the outdated one. I feel like such an old person, facebook confuses and scares me. I'm not really sure what I'm doing, I might just be romanticizing myspace in my head, but I'm convinced it was waaay less complicated. Ah it just angers me, it's like, I just want a page that tells everyone how awesome I am and I don't want to exert too much effort nor spend a lot of time doing it. Not that hard.
Anyway it's really late and I'm going to bed, but one more thing before I go, I saw Repo Men the other night and daaaaamn Jude Law is so fine. I'll tell you something about Jude though, he can really be off and on for me, sometimes he is too pretty boy for me, but when he plays the rugged man role, ah can't resist! Well, just had to get that off my chest.
-Katie

Cheers

2010-03-30T01:32:00.000-07:00

Last night I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish Lethal Weapon 4, tonight I'm on my second episode of Cheers, I do want to go someplace where everybody knows my name and they're always glad I came. I'm actually watching Cheers by accident, I was watching back to back episodes of the Golden Girls then it just came on, damn I really need to get to sleep, you know you really shouldn't be up when you're inadvertently watching shows you're barely paying attention to. Anyway, as I said before my house was visited by Chac Mool last week, that mother fucker, now we're going to get doubly fucked, great, shouldn't have said anything. Anyway, my neighbor must have been the one who pissed the Mool off because it was his house that flooded and it leaked over here and they're really dragging their feet over (deep sigh) to take car of this, so I'll be crashing on the couch for longer than expected until the soaked downstairs gets put back together. In better news my teacher LOVES Killer Tofu, he says I've mastered the dark comedy and he thinks I'll just nail the finished project. I'm excited to continue writing now, but I hope I live up to his expectations :/ I'm off for Spring Break for the next two weeks now so I'll have plenty of time to work on it, but I also have my Science Fiction final in which I have to write a short story. I've already got a kick ass idea for that; a political urban western Escape From New York type, which now writing this seems a little overly ambitious, but I'm going to have fun with it, my biggest problem would be trying to not make it too heavy handed or cheesy. I hope I can pull these projects off, eh, I'm sure I can.
-Katie
P.S. I know those of you who were like, "Who is that Chac Mool, fool?" will be tempted to look it up, but let this be a warning to you, beware this venture is not for the feint of heart or for those who are light in the wallet...

All in the Family

2010-02-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

Well I think a while has past since my last post. Just to catch everyone up to speed I'm living at home, commuting to Northridge everyday, which yes, fucking sucks. It takes me about an hour and forty minutes without traffic and with anywhere between 2-4 hours. With my old beast of a car it can get pretty scary. When I'm stuck in traffic I have to turn my heater up so the car doesn't overheat and crap out, which is whatever, it works I'm not complaining, but the shitty thing is that it makes me so sweaty I can just see the cars next to me like, "Why the fuck is that girl so sweaty? She's just fucking sitting there, what's she hiding?" I don't know why I'm so paranoid of this, but that's where your mind goes when your sitting in your 1989 Toyota with the heater running, tried from a long day at school, and still 4 hours of traffic ahead of you. I'm not so sure this much thinking is a good thing. In many ways it helps though, since I've started writing the much anticipated "Killer Tofu" (which is only "much anticipated" by myself, sorry I was just trying to make myself look important) anyway I've been talking about it for years and finally inks hitting the pad. I'm pretty happy with it so far. I'll post some monologues I've written and a short synopsis at the end, feel free to comment on it.
Anyway Hamlet is doing well, he's gotten to be so big now, but not quite as big as other full grown pugs, so I'm convinced he's a miniature, if there is such a thing as a miniature pug. He's like a fine wine he just gets better with age. He's almost near potty trained and he just gets cuter and cuter everyday. School is going well I'm taking a shit ton of literature classes, I'm averaging about four books a week, which I'm totally happy with, I love to read and so far it's all been great. I'm really enjoying my science fiction class, it's all the stuff you want to read but never get around to. So far I've read We, Canticle of Leibowitz, Solaris, and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Which have all been great I'm excited to read more. My contemporary literature class is pretty cool too I get to read Q&A which is what Slumdog Millionaire was based on, which should be a fun read and I get to read a lot of Vonnegut. My short stories class is way fun since I'm really into short stories right now. In the past month I've read one anthology of horror and one of living dead fiction which I've really enjoyed, there have been some great stuff in there! My screenwriting class is fun, I'm the only girl, which I'm quite surprised by. It can get sort of awkward sometimes when they describe their female characters in graphic physical detail or when I'm used as the meter for what's offense, but otherwise I'm glad to get back to writing.
I've been watching a lot of comedy specials thanks to Steve and I recently saw Patton Oswalt at the Irvine Improv which was awesome. It brings me back to my high school days in which I wanted to be a stand up comedian and I think I might try to get back out there and do some open mic nights. The only problem is I'm not very funny, but I'm a hell of a shit talker, and I'm good at telling strange, self deprecating stories. I hate awkward moments at my expense and if I do a lot of open mics there is bound to be a lot of awkward moments. So for now I'll just stick to being the shy writer, that seems to suite me well.
-Katie

Top 65 of the Decade (Prepare to have your mind blown)

2010-01-13T01:30:00.000-08:00

65. Spiderman 2
Who doesn’t love spidey? Tobey Maguire just nails this character! The second one is when shit gets real, but it stays true to the character and never goes too deep or too cheesy. Alfred Molina was great as Doc Ock, but the number one reason I just love these movies is how cool it is to see Sam Raimi’s take on the superhero genre.

64. Cloverfield
I’m a sucker for the monster movies and the secrecy surrounding this flick just made it that much more fun. Sure, I had to pop some serious aspirin after catching it on the big screen, but the handheld added to the movies disarray. I thought the monster looked cool and the destruction was awesome. I wish I could see an “R” version of this, but hey it held up with “PG-13”.

63. Iron Man
My man RDJ, how could I resist? This was one of the superhero movies that helped bring critical validity to the genre, so of course I thank it for that. With movies like GI Joe, Ghost Rider, do I even need to go on? It just goes to show how wrong comic book movies can really go, so thank god for the ones like this. Can’t wait for Iron Man 2!

62. Every Michael Moore movie this decade
Okay I cheated on this one, but fuck it, who are you, Judge Judy? Anyway I couldn’t pick just one; I thought they were all great. Yea, people un-fairly hate on Michael Moore, but whatever, I think he makes some interesting and seriously fun documentaries.

61. High Tension
Like I’ve said a thousand times horror has been reawakened thanks to a few directors, this one included. The story is an awesome gore fest with an interesting twist. The movie starts out with some guy fucking a decapitated head, if that doesn’t convince you to watch the movie I don’t know what will.

60. Incident at Loch Ness
I just could not stop laughing at this movie. Werner Herzog is just one of those people you can’t help but just love. I love the way he talks and his accent adds to the joy he brings me. The movie is so artfully done, at times you can’t really tell what is actually happening and what parts are artistic license(of course I knew the nessie parts were fake, just thought I’d clear that up). If you want to watch a ridiculous, strange, and funny flick, catch this one on DVD.

59. Clerks II
I just love Kevin Smith and I think he can really do no wrong. When I heard he was making a Clerks II I was a little sketchy, but I could just punch my former self for thinking so. This movie was as funny as it was endearing; a great Kevin Smith picture.

58. Crank 2
I just love these movies. I remember waiting to watch the first one on DVD and afterwards I was so mad at myself that I missed it in theaters. I know people are going to crucify me for putting this one on the list, but suck it, this movie was great. The concepts no matter how outlandish are always creative and entertaining and I’ve certainly never seen a movie shot like this before. The camera is truly used as an artful, invisible tool to get the point across. Love it or hate it, the Cranks are ushering in the new wave of action.

57. Pineapple Express
People hate on this movie and I’m not sure why, to me it was great. It is one of the best stoner comedies and one of the better bff (f) movies. It’s not constricted or jammed into one genre, it is able to pass easily into action as it is into comedy; superb work.

56. Bourne Identity
I actually went to the theaters to see this not knowing what the fuck or who the fuck Bourne was. I was so glad I went after I popped a few aspirin. Definitely one of the pioneers of the new action flick.

55. X-Men 2
This was the best X-Men in my mind. I love how Bryan Singer can make a great “superhero” movie, but done so well its social/political allusions are endless. Everyone gives Iron Man the credit for ushering in the serious, deeper comic movies, but really I feel like the credit should be given to the first two X-Men, who started this trend back in 2000.

54. High Fidelity
Top five reasons I love this movie? 5) Yea sure it was dripping with hip, but I have to say it was in the best way possible. 4) The Evil Dead II conversation 3) Jack Black 2) John Cusack 1) Tim Robbins

53. Black Dynamite
The funniest movie of 2009 and so much fun! Finally a well made spoof movie! Donuts don’t wear alligator shoes.

52. House of the Devil
Such a fun movie! I’m so excited for horror; it looks like we have some good directors emerging to take the genre back from remakes and bullshit. *Side note for gore hounds* Don’t worry the beginning starts off tame, but wait until the end and you won’t be disappointed!

51. Saw
I was so shocked when I saw Saw. I had put it off thinking it was just some new age horror crap, but I actually really enjoyed it! I had a lot of fun following the plot and trying to figure out the twists.

50. Trick r Treat
Falling in line with Creepshow this has got to be one of the best compilation, story within a story type movies ever made. With its creative plots, its super fun for horror fans and the general audience alike.

49. Cabin Fever
Once again, such a relief to have another great movie to save horror fans from the awful early 00’s. A funny, campy, haunting, and creative film that has horror fans everywhere, or at least myself, rejoicing.

48. Mystic River
A loaded cast, based on a great book, and it’s about child molestin, a winning combo for a great film. I would like to add one of the most haunting scenes in cinema would have to be when little Tim Robbins is trapped at that place with the molesters, my heart sinks every time.

47. Oceans 11
This movie has such a great cast I couldn’t resist! It turned out to be a super cool, laid-back heist movie; of course I didn’t expect any less of Soderbergh.

46. Little Miss Sunshine
Who could resist this one? Such a sweet movie about functional dysfunction. Let’s admit it everyone can see their family in this film. No? Only me?

45. Revolutionary Road
I was not expecting to enjoy this movie at all, sure I was looking forward to the Kate/Leo team- up just like anyone else, but I thought it was going to be extremely cheesy, heavy handed, film student porn, but I was pleasantly surprised to realize it was super good. It turned out to be so much more than exposing the underbelly of suburban living. A real unexpected gem, this one.

44. Revenge of the Sith
The last of the prequels and I have to say it’s the best. I did enjoy the others, so whatever, hate if you want, but Revenge of the Sith is really the one I felt was great.

43. Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
I really enjoyed this one; brought a lot to think about in a colorful and exciting new way. Even halting production and adding three new faces to play the same guy couldn’t stop this picture. Out of tragedy we still got something Heath could have been proud of; I honestly couldn’t imagine the story told any other way. Although this film comes with a bittersweet ending; this is all we have left of a truly amazing, legendary, young actor.

42. Children of Men
I’m really not sure what to say about this one besides the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed it. A real, true work of art.

41. Moon
Such an underappreciated movie in my eyes. It’s cool to see new movies being added to the sci fi genre, especially in what seems like a drought. I’m excited to see more by Duncan Jones.

40. Sin City
Fuck yea and fuck you if you don’t like it.

39. Memento
Such an interesting story structure. I remember my 12 year old mind was blown when I saw this.

38. The Departed
Loaded cast. Directed by Scorsese. Enough said.

37. Watchmen
I first had mixed feelings about this film, several viewings later; I realized I liked it…a lot. For something that was supposed to be unfilmable Zack Snyder did a pretty damn good job.

36. 28 days later…
To get a well made horror movie in the early 00’s was like asking Jesus himself to make a movie. I was so pleasantly surprised to see such a gem come from such an awful time for horror.

35. The Host
Like I said before I love monster movies, but I’ve realized how underexploited they are. It was refreshing to see that some directors understand the greatness and versatility of the genre.

34. The Hangover
Who doesn’t love this movie? Hilarious and such a great crew-buddy comedy.

33. Audition
Piano wire scene. That’s all I have to say.

32. A Serious Man
Typical Co bros picture and I of course ate it up. Darkly funny, intensely frustrating, and depressing, what could be a better combination?

31. Zodiac
I have done my research on the Zodiac murderer and before stepping into the theater I thought he was the least scary of all serial killers, however as I walked out I was sort of freaked. This movie was so artfully suspenseful; it even got someone like me nervous. David Fincher never fails to impress.

30. A.I.
Remember a time when Haley Joel Osment wasn’t an alcoholic? Unfortunately this new generation probably doesn’t even recognize the name, and what a shame, when we look back at such roles as this. This movie was beautiful and nicely executed. Spielberg truly has a monopoly on the family friendly yet dark sci fi pictures and rightfully so.

29. Fantastic Mr. Fox
The fantastic Mr. Anderson! Super cute flick, but with that quirk and wit that Wes Anderson never fails to deliver.

28. Hotel Rwanda
I love the Cheads, but I also have to make a shout out to my man Keir, who wrote the script and who is also the best professor at Saddleback! I will probably never watch this movie again because of how sad and horrifying it is, and that is a testament to how great it is.

27. 40 year old virgin
One of the funniest movies ever made. I remember just watching it and laughing and laughing. There’s just nothing like an Apatow film.

26. Grindhouse
Fuck I enjoyed these movies so much. I just gave them another watch and realized how underappreciated these are! Grindhouse is one of the most fun experiences I’ve had in a theater. The trailers were hilarious, Planet Terror was so much fun and Death Proof had some of the coolest characters and next to memento the most interesting story structure.

25. Adaptation
I consider this to be the most Kaufman-esque of all his films (besides Synecdoche of course) and it is my favorite. The characters were great, the inner dialogue/ the dialogue in general, was super funny. And there were two Nick Cages, need I say more?

24. An Education
A movie that was not on the top of my list to see this year, but I’m sure glad I went. The charming, sexy, bad-boy, older man character has to be really well done for me to fall for it. Because honestly I get really hung up on things like borderline child molestation, but in the end I fell right into his honey pot like all the rest of the characters. Speaking of the characters, they were just great in this, right down to the mother and father. It also spoke extra volumes to me, since, this was one of those experience in which you’re kind of going through the same thing at the same time as the main character. *I related to her struggle with school and her education, not the older man part, just wanted to clarify that.*

23. Spirited Away
I don’t like Anime, but I will make exceptions for Miazaki films. Spirited Away was actually the first of his films I saw and was really amazed. The Spirited Away world is so awesome I watched this one on tape (showing my age) everyday for like a week when I first got it and couldn’t get enough.

22. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
PJams! Next to Quentin my favorite director. Although this trilogy, to me, is only his second best work, it still deserves a spot on this list. I was not a fan of the books at all and wasn’t really excited for these movies, nonetheless, I went to see Fellowship opening weekend and was hooked. These movies are epic, but still have PJ’s signature stamp on them. Just terrific work.

21. Up
As hard as it is to pick a favorite Pixar movie I’ve done it! This one of course had the talking dogs, which I just adored! But I just thought the plot to this one was head and shoulders above any other animation out there. Taking a mean spirited, old man, a terribly annoying kid, and an outlandish concept and making it not only heartwarming and believable, but sympathetic, is just applause worthy. I’ll never know how Pixar can take the most ludicrous things and make them fantastically loveable, but they’ve wowed me every time.

20. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Although I see this one as less of a Charlie Kaufman movie and more of the director’s own work, than his others, I can still see his influence seeping in. Such an interesting plot and the visuals are so cool. I always thought about how cool it would be to project dreams/thoughts and this surprisingly surpassed even my imagination.

19. Pan’s Labyrinth
I saw this before it got its wide release and no one knew what the fuck it was. I immediately told all my pals to check it out and about a month later it was everywhere, does that up my hip cred? In all seriousness though, this film was magical, well darkly so, but magical none the less. Guillermo’s true masterpiece.

18. No Country for Old Men
One of the Co bros best movies, and I don’t think anyone’s arguing me there, so do I really need to say more?

17. Avatar
I will repeat it over again Avatar is a true auteur’s work. The 3D is off the fucking chain and the plot is a lot better than people seem to think. People who don’t like it are just ignorant and probably not very film literate. If you can’t see how revolutionary both the story and special effects are, you’re deliberately not looking.

16. Bad Lieutenant Port of Call: New Orleans
I had an idea how crazy this movie might be going into it, but I was actually surprised at how good it was. Nick Cage gives one of his best performances here, as one crazy motherfucker; I couldn’t tell Nick Cage from a real crack addict and that’s a compliment.

15. Hot Fuzz
I adore Mr. Wright. This movie never gets old, I could watch it over and over, as I so have. A great comedy, but also one of the coolest buddy cop/action movies ever made, I’ll actually go as far as to say one of the most perfect movies ever made, to me anyway.

14. Drag me to Hell
It is probably no surprise I’m a Raimi fan and I feel like this is his second best picture. I remember feeling so high after I watched this in theaters. I actually just watched it again the other day and the feeling didn’t fade. Such a great gift not only for Raimi fans, but to the horror genre.

13. There will be Blood
Such a fantastic movie, a true masterpiece. D-Day is of course great and PTA is, as always, on his game. I realized when I read Oil! how creative the plot was, as the script is really only loosely based on similar characters and plot points in the book. If possible I gain more respect for this film every time I watch it.

12. Up in the Air
Boy I love that Cloons! In this he really shines. This film is just really superb and the characters are just so well written/developed. Being as great as it is, only furthers my point that movies in general, specifically Jason Reitman’s flicks, are so much better without Diablo Cody.

11. American Psycho
I absolutely love this movie. There is nothing better than a pop culture loving, lecture giving serial killer. One of the best horror movies ever made.

10. 25th hour
One of my greatest fears is going to prison, and I often think about what your life would be like right after sentencing, but before your prison term starts. This movie thoroughly explores this, while also delving more into post 9/11 politics. Just a terrific film

9. Kill Bill vol. 1&2
Fucking awesome. I’m a sucker for revenge, especially brutal revenge. The bride empowers women everywhere, well me at least.

8. Royal Tenenbaums
Wes Anderson’s masterpiece. I don’t know what else to say.

7. Lars and the Real Girl
Proof that indie movies don’t have to be depressing and disheartening to be good. Not only is this a creative idea, but they turned such a creepy concept into something sweet and heartwarming. Seriously after watching this I decided if this town existed, I would drop everything, pack up my shit, and move. I normally don’t like movies so warm and fuzzy, but even the blackest of hearts can’t help, but fall in love with this flick. *Side note* Can’t help but love Ryan Gosling! Even when he plays a repressed, slightly creepy, nutty nerd, I still want to do him.

6. Let the Right One In
It took the fucking sweds to make a great vampire movie and reclaim this subgenre for real horror fans. With ambiguous morals, gore, and sweet coming of age tenderness this is truly one of my favorite horror movies of all time.

5. The Wrestler
What can I say about this film? Well, it’s a true masterpiece. I didn’t want to even see it at first and I am so glad I did. One of the best movies of all time; I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so emotional during a movie before, but the end when he throws the curtain back and walks out to Sweet Child o Mine I just can’t help but get shaky in the knees; the ring is where the Ram belongs!

4. Shaun of the Dead
Like I’ve said before I adore Edgar Wright. Not only a great zombie movie, but funny as fuck. The characters are amazing and I credit this crew with shining new light on the horror/comedy.

3. Wedding Crashers
Alright let the hate fly, but this movie is perfect as far as I’m concerned. I’m a sucker for bromances, but this movie delivers far more than a few jokes (although this movie is hysterical). The script and execution is impeccable, the story is creative, and the characters are more fun and lovable than any I’ve ever seen committed on screen. It’s foolproof. The chemistry between these two cannot be topped and they’re delivery and wit cannot be matched. Will Ferrell’s cameo at the end is not only the funniest, but up there with the best in a move ever; I’ve never been so pleasantly surprised by any cameo before in my life. I’m jealous of my 2005 self for getting the joy of seeing it for the first time. I could go on for hours about this one and I am prepared to

2. The Dark Knight
No explanation needed on this one. Far and away the best “superhero” movie and up there with some of the great crime movies of all time.

1. Inglourious Basterds
Far and away my favorite movie of the decade. I know I’m going to get killed for picking this, as not only number one in general, but picking it as my favorite Tarantino movie of the decade. I really feel like this one oozes Quentin, though. It’s cool, witty, and fun. This movie cannot have a cooler subject and the characters and dialogue just couldn’t get any better. Fuck the haters. *Side note* Ladies I know I don’t need to explain this one to you, but seriously was this movie not rainin men! Fuck Nine, this movie was the hottest movie of the year/ever, shit I was totally wishing I was a stranded woman in France that “accidently” stumbled upon this crew.

Once again, don't like it? Fuck you

P.S. For anyone who has actually read all this, thanks!
-Katie

Top films of 09

2010-01-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

21.Capitalism a Love Story

20.Me and Orson Welles

19. House of the Devil

18. The Lovely Bones

17. Observe and Report

16. Fantastic Mr. Fox

15. Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

14. An Education

13. Crank 2

12. Black Dynamite

11. Watchmen

10. Moon

9. The Hangover

8. A Serious Man

7. Trick r Treat

6. Up

5. Avatar

4. Bad Lieutenant Port of Call: New Orleans

3. Drag Me to Hell

2. Up in the Air

1. Inglourious Basterds

I would like to make some honorable mentions: A Single Man, Zombieland, Extract, Antichrist, Big Fan, Star Trek, Sunshine Cleaning, and the Hurt Locker (I would put it on my list, but it's getting so much love already I didn't feel the need)

If you don't like it go fuck yourself

-Katie

Law and Order

2009-11-23T15:08:00.000-08:00

This past week became a crazyfest. I saw Bad Lieutenant Port of Call: New Orleans three times and was beginning to slowly loose my shit. I've taken a day away from Terence McDonagh, only to find myself watching Face Off.....Nick Cage you've got a hold on me

Arrested Development

2009-10-30T01:42:00.000-07:00

O M G! Halloween is coming up! I'm so excited, loves it! Some more exciting news, I made friends up here finally. I heard these nerds talking in one of my film classes and I just joined right in, which is usually totally out of my nature. So we're like bffs now, we hang out every day, they teach me the joys of LAN parties and I teach them the joys of gossip rags, it's fantastic. They are all encompassing nerds and it is so adorable, I feel like our relationships should be a sitcom, three nerds and a fantastic hottie (haha...right...but go with it) they play video games, discuss movies in scrutinizing detail, comic shop and......gossip?! That's my life.
I'm working on a couple of scripts right now, one kind of dramedy and one ridiculous horror comedy, I will hopefully be submitting these to be made by my school. I'm not sure the ridiculous horror will get made, it's called Doggy Style and the tag line "These dogs know how to potty", it's about dogs that all unite in a world wide mass murder against their owners. I'm going to use puppets and tap knives to their paws, the first scene will involve a dog/human rape, it's going to be so tasteless and so wildly inappropriate I may just get kicked out of the program.....in fact I'm counting on it. The most fucked up thing about this, though? While I'm writing this I'm listening to a lot of Owl City, for those of you who have not heard them yet, let me give you such a fantastically typical innocent line "I get a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightening bugs as they try to teach me how to dance"....these happy, childish tunes just help bring out the inner sick shit that helps me write such a thing as....Doggy Style. Am I social deviant? Most definitely.

Wow it's late.
-Katie

Are you Afraid of the Dark?

2009-10-15T02:25:00.000-07:00

Well I made it back from my trip to ATL, which was really fun. I had a lot of delish southern food and I got to see my big shot sister. This was the first vacation I have had in a long time, even though it totally wasn't a vacation, eh, but that's besides the point, it was fun. Besides the whole flying thing. For those of you who know me you know I HATE to fly. It's scary, it's uncomfortable, it's impending doom. For all those internet predators floating around out there, well, there it is, I have a fear. Of course I probably made this worse by looking up plane crash pictures the night before, I don't know, I thought somehow it might help....fuck it I'm just weird. I also watched my fair share of explosions and death for my in-flight entertainment, which probably didn't help either. On the way there it wasn't that bad though, I thought hey, I'm cool, I'm the big mama cat in town, I can do this, and fuck me on the way back it got turbulent, I almost threw up, the whole impending doom thing caught up with me again. Next time, I'm going to knock myself out and I don't mean the nice swallow a few heavy sedatives, as I learned this time don't fucking work, I mean full on run into a brick wall until I'm almost medically dead or else I will never board a plane again.
This weekend is a big weekend for me. Tomorrow I have a huge test I've been studying for all night, hence the hour of this blog. This test is bullshit and I'm not just being angsty, it really is bullshit, I have to memorize terms and dates just to forget it all after the test, but whatever, I have to get through it so I will. I will also have my NBC line up tomorrow to look forward to, ah the joys of television. Friday I will be seeing A Serious Man, which I have been wanting to see for quite a while now, Saturday I will be seeing Where the Wild Things Are, which I expect to be magical. Then that night, off to Universal to get my ass scared and yes I will cry, I will run, and I will scream. I can talk about horror, I can write about horror, I can watch horror, but if that shit comes running after me, I'm fucking out. Sunday I will be seeing Black Dynamite, which Steve and I have been looking forward to for a loooong time, so that should be awesome.
This is really creepy, but the guy next door, with whom I share a wall, I think is humming like Gizmo, you know from Gremlins, it's super weird.
Anyway, some csun student got attacked pretty much halfway between my house and the school, which is scary because that was suppose to be the "nice" part of Northridge. So I'm going to go this week to get some pepper spray. I wanted to get a gun, then I was like I don't know if I trust myself with a gun, then I was like oh a knife, then I'm like oh man I know what happens to bitches who have knives.....they get shot (count it!), so I decided to get myself some pepper spray, I mean it's not so pussy, I can blind mother fuckers eyes.....eh. I mean, I actually fended off a rapists with my bare hands once!.....but I don't want to risk it because in this case this mother fucker had a pipe.
I know I say this all the time, but check out the New Bev schedule and seriously hit me up if you want to go. I'm going to be going by myself to some of these things and they shouldn't be missed! Now I have a snoring, cuddly pug to attend to. I should probably put on a nice movie and go to bed, but I can't find my copy of Dead Alive....eh goodnight and until next time
-Katie

Stalk force five

2009-09-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

Well I haven't written in a long time. Damn a lot has happened, a lot have died. Michael Jackson, John Hughes, P Swayz, just to name a few. We'll miss you guys.
But on to the good news, I got a new poochie, Hamlet, well that's his official name, but he also responds to ham, hammy, hamster, mark hamil, hamilton, hamly, hammy lee you get the point. I just love him and I have been having so much fun with him! He's a lot of work, but it pays to be cute I guess. Also I moved! Don't get too excited, I moved to Northridge. I just feel like I suck when I walk down the street, like everyone gives each other this sad, painful look, I can hear them just sighing through their eyes. I don't have it that bad though, I live in a pretty cool place.
Living in LA definitely has it's upsides, I'm close to the theaters I like to go to and within stalking distance of all the hip celebs! The New Bev is having a great month and next month even better, so I'll be there everyday, so if you haven't gone yet what the fuck are you waiting for?! I have also just discovered the Egyptian theater which is having a Kubrick week this week, super fun. I just have so much fun every weekend, like last weekend I dropped so much dough in Amoeba I bought King Kong (og), Gojira, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (spec ed), The Wolfman (spec ed), Frankenstein (spec ed), Halloween II, Friday the 13th part II. I searched for Pieces, but alas nothing, if anyone knows where I can find it that would be a great help. Oh how I wish I was rich and could do this without crying a little after realizing how much money I dropped.
I also went to see Extract, which was really good, funny, and sweet! So go see it, by the looks of it, it needs all the money it can get :/ Also another good movie, Big Fan. My man Patton was pretty decent! This film also helps me realize, I'm obsessive, but also reaffirms I'm not nutso. ....Probably not a good thing to admit on here. Okay so anyway on to the elephant in the room Basterds! Wow wow wow wow wow! Looooved it! I can't say enough! It even led me to my new celeb crush, Eli Roth, damn that man is mighty fine and a good director too! I ended up sitting down to watch his movies, after much deliberation. I was never into the torture-porn genre, I know even though it seems right up my alley. I watched Hostel, Hostel II and loved them, then Cabin Fever again and loved that, just real down home campy fun! I was impressed and now smitten, a dashing, charming, bear jew of a man, who loves and makes great, gorrific (I made that word up) horror movies, god damn how could I not fall for this mancake. So now all Steve and I talk about is Nazi Killin and Eli Roth what better visions could I have dancing around in my head?

-Katie

P.S. I made a rotten tomatoes account check it out http://www.rottentomatoes.com/member/katied

Jon and Kate plus divorce

2009-06-19T01:11:00.000-07:00

Most high schools had their graduations tonight, I'm feeling extremely nostalgic. I was tempted to grab my cap and gown and blend right in. I love high school graduations, so much excitement, so much promise, so much to look forward to. You're still kind of a kid, but with all the best parts of adulthood. Growing up increasingly fast, it seems, makes me yearn for my younger years I don't want to leave my youth behind. Growing up is just another part of life, but it's also really scary. I have to pave my own way, I mean this is the rest of my life, there is no "one day", it's today, right now, it isn't some far away fantasy anymore. I still have two more years to think about it I guess, but it scares me I don't want to be a part of the real world I want to be stuck in my bubble.
I saw the hangover tonight, it was such a good feelin movie. I just want to be a dude sometimes there are no buddy/crew comedies with bitches. I don't know, I just want to go to Vegas and have an unbelieveable fucked up weekend now, it's totally out of my nature, but fuck what good feelins.
Recently I've been spending my time advertising and being scared to fuck about moving on, but the Hangover definitely helped me get over it, atleast for a couple hours. Vegas anyone???

-Katie

The Best Years

2009-05-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

Wow it's been a long time since my last entry! In the interim, I had a swine flu scare, had bronchitis instead, had another kidney infection (only mild this time), graduated Saddleback, saw some flicks and decided to start my own dog walking service so I can quit my horrible life killing job. I will first talk about my swine flue scare, I did not nor do I have swine flu. Having a cold during this period was the worse punishment as you can imagine. I just ended up having something more severe instead so I was relieved. Kidney infections always suck, but I got over it. Oh graduating Saddleback was just awful, I just want to stay there forever, I don't want to go to real college! I'm not just a real college sort of girl, I have horrible social skills, I'm incredibly awkward, and I look like I'm fourteen! Which makes me realize I could make a killing working for perverted justice, haaay old dude hit this up, but not really...but maybe, no.
I saw some great movies! I'm not a trekkie I always felt like Star Wars been there done that far superior blah blah, but Star Trek was great! I was really impressed and although he had just a small part I just adored JJ's addition Keenser!

I also saw Observe and Report and loved it! Now I know people hated on this movie, but they're just lame. Honestly, one of favorite movies! I'm not the first person to make this observation, (I'm just furthering its validity) that it is the Big Lebowski of its time, didn't do so well in the box office, however, became a cult classic, I think Observe will follow in these footsteps. Not only do I relate to Ronnie so much, minus the bipolar and penis, the movie was fucking BA as shit! And omg Brandi reminded me of all the bitches out here in the oc to a fucking T! No one in the theaters laughed at her parts because that was their life; they didn't get it was a joke! Now I don't want to be too hard on the oc I love the oc, I'm technically an orange county girl; bitches all around are like that and I'm so glad some movie finally went there! And you better believe everyday I wish I had a Ronnie to come smash my evil boss's head into an oven! Damn and the penis! (the first penis count for this year I believe, nothing tops last year, though) And bloody ending, I just adored this movie! Shots!
Let's see I also saw I love you man, which I, well, loved! I love the bromances they get me everytime! I honestly wanted those two to be friends more than the lame wedding to go through, but don't worry the romance didn't ruin the movie for me, Jason Segel and Paul Rudd are just too damn awesome!
I also saw Crank 2, nutty and fucking awesome! I loved the first one of course and couldn't wait when I saw they were making another. This definitely did not upset! I don't think I've ever had this much fun in a theater, damn great stuff! Chelios I can't wait for yet another adventure in Crank 3. Fuck I just want to light someone on fire!
I also saw some great things at the New Bev: Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs, Ride the High Country. Fuck I love Peckinpah! I was so pumped after those movies! I plan on going to the New Bev a lot this summer, in fact next week I plan on going to the Back to the Future Trilogies, I actually might leave before the third, I don't know compared to the first two, weak. They actually have a lot of great movies coming up, so I would like to suggest to y'all, and the few Internet predators, that read this to check it out!
Pop Culture time, what the fuck was up with Adam losing Idol?! Seriously? I don't even remember the other dudes name! Fuck that, even though I only sparsely watched the show and never voted, I was rooting for Adam! I say we temporarily suspense democracy until we can get this whole thing sorted out. Goddamn America is so damn fickle! Except little Shawn John did win Dancing with the Stars and by only 1%, so you can thank me later Shawn for the five votes I gave you! I wasn't always on the Shawn boat, but the night before voting she swayed me and the rest is history.
Okay movies I can't wait to see:
Terminator, I feel like a thirteen year old boy whose balls just dropped, I want some fucking action!
Night at the Museum II, yep I like these movies say what you will, I think they're cute
Drag Me to Hell, such a Raimi fan
Up, pixar can't go wrong
Inglourious Basterds, I can't fucking wait
Shutter Island, loved the book, looks like an awesome movie, I love Leo, I love Scorsese
Public Enemies, how BA does this look?
Funny People, come on who could resist, dramedy featuring Apatow crew+Adam Sandler
Sherlock Holmes, my man RDJ
Harry Potter, well duh I want to see this!
Where the Wild Things are, yep
Away we go, I'm kind of into Mendes now
Taking Woodstock, I heard my man Jeffrey Dean Morgan gets nakey, I'm so totally there
I'm sure there are others I just can't think of them now

Thanks for anyone who actually read through this bullshit
-Katie

Murder she wrote

2009-03-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

My thoughts/experience almost exactly.

AN OPEN LETTER FROM A WATCHMEN SCREENWRITER

So it has been five months since I saw my first rough cut of WATCHMEN, and eight days since the premiere of the film I've been working on since late in the year 2000.

The reviews are out -- Some outstanding, others rankly dismissive, which can be frustrating for the people involved, (though I can only speak for myself,) because I firmly believe that WATCHMEN, the novel, must be read through more than once to even have the faintest grip on it. And I believe the film is the same.

I've seen it twice now, and despite having run the movie in my head thousands of times, my two viewings still don’t' allow me to view the film with the proper distance or objectivity. Is it Apocalypse Now? Is it Blade Runner? Is it Kubrick, or Starship Troopers? I don’t know yet.

All I know is that I had a pretty amazing experience the two times I've seen it. And both viewings produced remarkably different experiences. The point is, I have listened for years, to complaints from true comic book fans, that "not enough movies take the source material seriously." "Too many movies puss out," or "They change great stories, just to be commercial." Well, I f***ing dare you to say any one of those things about this movie.

This is a movie made by fans, for fans. Hundreds of people put in years of their lives to make this movie happen, and every one of them was insanely committed to retaining the integrity of this amazing, epic tale. This is a rare success story, bordering on the impossible, and every studio in town is watching to see if it will work. Hell, most of them own a piece of the movie.

So look, this is a note to the fanboys and fangirls. The true believers. Dedicated for life.

If the film made you think. Or argue with your friends. If it inspired a debate about the nature of man, or vigilante justice, or the horror of Nixon abolishing term limits. If you laughed at Bowie hanging with Adrian at Studio 54, or the Silhouette kissing that nurse.

Please go see the movie again next weekend.

You have to understand, everyone is watching to see how the film will do in its second week. If you care about movies that have a brain, or balls, (and this film's got both, literally), or true adaptations -- And if you're thinking of seeing it again anyway, please go back this weekend, Friday or Saturday night. Demonstrate the power of the fans, because it'll help let the people who pay for these movies know what we'd like to see. Because if it drops off the radar after the first weekend, they will never allow a film like this to be made again.

In the interests of full disclosure, let me also point out that I do not profit one cent from an increase in box office, although an increase in box office can add to the value of the writers' eventual residual profits from dvd and tv sales.

But I'm not saying it for money. I'm saying it for people like me. I'm saying it for people who love smart, dark entertainment, on a grand, operatic scale. I'm talking to the Snake fans, the Rorschach fans, the people of the Dark Knight.

And hey, if you hated the film, if you think we committed atrocities, or literary mistakes of a massive, cephalopodic nature. If the movie made you a little sick to your stomach, or made you feel bad about your life. If you hated it for whatever reason, that's cool too. I'm not suggesting you risk gastro-intestinal distress just for the sake of risky filmmaking.

But if you haven't seen it yet? Well, I'll just say this...

It may upset you. And it probably will upset you.

And all along, we really meant it to.

Because face it. All this time...You there, with the Smiley-face pin. Admit it.

All this time, you’ve been waiting for a director who was going to hit you in the face with this story. To just crack you in the jaw, and then bend you over the pool table with this story. With its utterly raw view of the darkest sides of human nature, expressed through its masks of action and beauty and twisted good intentions. Like a fry-basket full of hot grease in the face. Like the Comedian on the Grassy Knoll. I know, I know...

You say you don't like it. You say you've got issues. I get it.

And yet... You'll be thinking about this film, down the road. It'll nag at you. How it was rough and beautiful. How it went where it wanted to go, and you just hung on. How it was thoughtful and hateful and bleak and hilarious. And for Jackie Earle Haley.

Trust me. You'll come back, eventually. Just like Sally.

Might as well make it count for something.

David Hayter

hahaha this guy is my fav!
-Katie

Good Times

2009-03-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Seriously, new celebrity crush Jeffrey Dean Morgan

How can a man be this hot? my god

-Katie

Six Feet Under

2009-02-02T21:09:00.000-08:00

My life was dedicated to finding this book that scared the motherfucking shit out of me when I was little. For the life of me I couldn't remember what the hell it was called though, then as I sat down to watch the bachelor about five minutes ago, it came to me, Scared Stiff. I used to be a little page master in my day, reading and visiting the library as often as I could. One day when I visited the friends of the library store I found this book for only ten cents, it looked interesting so I bought it, big mistake. My god I literally could not sleep for days! I was about eight when I read it and the cover said the book was targeted for my age, but I soon realized that might have been someone's sick joke. Don't let the cute cover fool you this children's novel involves death, zombies, brutality, and murder. Well, read the back cover for yourself:
Living in a funeral home can be a riot . . . until a body comes alive one night. Kelly and Chace are determined to stop the vengeful bag of bones from terrorizing their town. But how do you stop something that's already dead?
It's out of print now, but you can find it on amazon and ebay literally for pennies. I suggest you have a read. I'll never forget this book, this is the sole reason in which I have irrational fears of butchers, zombies, and windows with no curtains. And for god sake never sit with you back facing a large window ever!
-Katie Somebody let the body out of the bag

Well I created a blog

2008-09-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

I pretty much saw everyone else doing it and thought it was cool, so I came around and made one too. I guess I'll write some more when I have time, for now I have to write a script I've been putting off all weekend.